STEPPER EXERCISE APPARATUS
A treadmill includes a base, two axle units, two pedal units and a coordinating unit. The base includes a post formed thereon. Each of the axle units includes an axle extended downwards from the post. Each of the pedal units includes a pedal pivotally connected to the axle of a related one of the axle units. The coordinating unit includes a pulley provided on the base and a rope wound round the pulley and formed with two ends each tied to a related one of the pedal units so that one of the pedal units is moved upwards and outwards while the other pedal unit is moved downwards and inwards.
The present invention relates to a treadmill with which a user can exercise his or her legs, buttocks and waist.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTIONA conventional treadmill includes two pedals that can be pivoted up and down about horizontal axles. The movement of the pedals is limited to vertical directions. Therefore, a user can only exercise his or her legs.
Another conventional treadmill includes two pedals that can be pivoted about two inclined axles extended from a post. The inclined axles and the post form a Y-shaped structure. One of the pedals will be lifted and moved towards the post if the other pedal is trodden and moved away from the post, i.e., outwards. Therefore, a user is forced to twist his or her waist while exercising his or her legs by treading the pedals. The user uses a little energy to twist his or her waist because he or she easily keeps balance while moving the pedal downwards and outwards.
The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONIt is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a treadmill with which a user can exercise his waist, buttocks and legs at the same time.
To achieve the foregoing objective, the treadmill includes a base, two axle units, two pedal units and a coordinating unit. The base includes a post formed thereon. Each of the axle units includes an axle extended downwards from the post. Each of the pedal units includes a pedal pivotally connected to the axle of a related one of the axle units. The coordinating unit includes a pulley provided on the base and a rope wound round the pulley and formed with two ends each tied to a related one of the pedal units so that one of the pedal units is moved upwards and outwards while the other pedal unit is moved downwards and inwards.
Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description referring to the attached drawings.
The present invention will be described via the detailed illustration of six embodiments referring to the drawings.
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Each of the axle units 20 includes an axle 21 extended downwards from the post 12. The axle 21 includes a fixed end at the post 12 and a free end opposite to the fixed end. The free end is located lower than the fixed end.
Each of the pedal units 30 includes a sleeve 35 pivotally provided on a related one of the axles 21 with two bearings 22 and 23, a beam 31 connected to the sleeve 35, a pedal 32 provided on the beam 31 and a connector 36 connected to the sleeve 35. Thus, the pedal units 30 are pivotally provided on the axle units 20.
The coordinating unit 40 includes a pulley 41 and a rope 43 wound around the pulley 41. The pulley 41 is connected to the longitudinal bar 13 with a fastener 42. The rope 43 is formed with two ends each tied to a washer 430. A fastener 44 is driven into the connector 36 of each of the pedal units 30 through a related one of the washers 430. Thus, the pedal units 30 are connected to each other with the coordinating unit 40 so that one of the pedals 32 will be moved upwards and outwards if the other pedal 32 is moved downwards and inwards.
Each of the impeding units 50 includes a hydraulic cylinder 51 and a universal joint 52 for connecting an end of the hydraulic cylinder 51 to the crossbar 11. An opposite end of the hydraulic cylinder 51 is connected to the beam 31 of a related one of the pedal units 30. Thus, each of the impeding units 50 is used to exert impedance against the movement of a related one of the pedal units 30.
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The present invention has been described via the detailed illustration of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.
Claims
1. A treadmill comprising:
- a base comprising a post formed thereon;
- two axle units each comprising an axle extended downwards from a flank of the post;
- two pedal units each pivotally connected to the axle of a related one of the axle units; and
- a coordinating unit comprising a pulley provided on the base and a rope wound round the pulley and formed with two ends each tied to a related one of the pedal units so that one of the pedal units is moved upwards and outwards while the other pedal unit is moved downwards and inwards.
2. The treadmill according to claim 1 comprising a fastener for fastening the pulley to the base.
3. The treadmill according to claim 1, wherein each of the pedal units comprises a pedal pivotally connected to a related one of the axles and a connector extended from the pedal, wherein the coordinating unit comprises two washers each connected to an end of the rope and two fasteners each driven into the connector of a related one of the pedal units through a related one of the washers.
4. The treadmill according to claim 1, wherein the coordinating unit comprises:
- a nut non-rotationally attached to the post;
- a threaded bolt engaged with the nut; and
- a fork rotationally connected to the threaded bolt, wherein the pulley is supported on the fork.
5. The treadmill according to claim 1 comprising two impeding units each for exerting impedance against the movement of the pedal of a related one of the pedal units.
6. The treadmill according to claim 1 comprising two elastic strings each comprising a lower end connected to a related one of the pedal units and an upper end connected to a handle to be held by a use so that such a user can exercise the arms by pulling the elastic strings.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 28, 2009
Publication Date: Nov 12, 2009
Patent Grant number: 7637849
Inventor: Tsung-Jen CHEN (Chiayi City)
Application Number: 12/431,586